Beyond the Rocks

"It is just as well," he said, "because she will have to get accustomed

to it. I shall ask my friends the Browns down to Bracondale on every

occasion, and as she is hostess there the stony stare won't answer."

"Manage her as best you may," said Anne. "But you know how she can be

now and then--perfectly annihilating to unfortunate strangers."

Hector's finely chiselled lips shut like a vise.

"We shall see," he said. "And who else have you got? None of the

Harrowfield-Devlyn crew, I hope--"

"Hector, how strange you are! I thought you and Lady Harrowfield were

the greatest friends, so of course I asked her. No one in London can

make a woman's success as she can."

"Or mar it so completely if she takes a dislike! Have you ever heard of

her doing a kindness to any one? I haven't!" he said, irritably.

Then he walked to the window and back quickly.

"I tell you I am sick of it all, Anne. Last night, whoever I spoke to

had something vile to impute or insinuate about every one they

mentioned; and Lady Harrowfield, with a record of her own worse than the

lowest, rode a high horse of virtue, and was more spiteful than all the

rest put together. I loathe them, the whole crew. What do they know of

anything good or pure or fine? Painted Jezebels, the lot of them!"

"Hector!" almost screamed Lady Anningford. "What has come over you, my

dear boy?"

"I will tell you," he said; and his voice, which had been full of

passion, now melted into a tone of deep tenderness. "I love a woman

whose pure goodness has taught me there are other possibilities in life

beyond the aims of these vile harpies of our world--a woman whose very

presence makes one long to be better and nobler, whose dear soul has

not room for anything but kind and loving thoughts of sweetness and

light. Oh, Anne, if I might have her for my own, and live away down at

Bracondale far from all this, I think--I think I, too, could learn what

heaven would mean on earth."

"Dear Hector!" said Anne, who was greatly moved. "Oh, I am so sorry for

you! But what is to be done? She is married to somebody else, and you

will only injure her and yourself if you see too much of her."

"I know," he said. "I realize it sometimes--this morning, for

instance--and then--and then--"